San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-03-16
OUR CRIMINAL CLASSES.

The unFXAmpled Increase In Tue ratlo
Of criminals TO population which the
statistics OF this country present calls
for some profound consideration on the
part Of courts,legislstures, prison reform
associations aud philanihropisrs and
moralists OF ali shades Of thinking. IL,
as would appear from our statistics Of
crime, The ratio Of Increase In the number
ofcrlminals In proposition to population
is 20 much greater than In any OF the
European states-it 10 time to enquire
into the defects OF our educational, re-
formatory and punitive systems and
make some intelligent effort 10 remedy
them. Ii may be put down as a rule.
that SO long Ms prisoners are held by the
ate. to be fsrmed out as the victims Of
avarice and cupidity, so long will these
prisoners become hardened 10 crime;
and, these convict camps, across whose
iDhumsnity there falls not one ray OF
kindly helpir z Influence, will continue
TO BE- 10 the future rs In the past, n d as
now, merely schools for vice from which
the conviots gradu ,te at the exprration
Of their sentences more hardened, bru-
talized and degraded than before. So
cIpIy has become TO them an enemy,
and their sense Of wrong done and In.
justice imposed IN axes them more des-
perat- and more at war with society
than ever before. Tue simple fact Is
that the Christianity OF this country.
with very few exceptions, takes no in.
terest Ia The reformation OF q criminal.
Ii 10 only when he has been sentenced 10
the gallows that they begin their min
Istries. hoping to electrfy the world
with tidings OF one more sinner snatch
ed from the soaffold to the arms Of
loving and tender Savior. This Mandy
psmoyism does no good, 1t does do posi-
tive harm. IL beds the far to come OF
every criminals life with the hope that
10 the last extremity he, TOO, may find
his way to the golden gates
from the gsllows' guard; that Is
II he gives the thing thought
at all. The reformation OF GRIM
mails must be begun, and begun at once,
or this country 10 overrun with crime.
rhe churches cannot shut their eyes to
their duty. The means and measures OF
true reform must be intelligently con-
sldered by them. and then the results OF
their thinking and counseling must be
given to the state. Legislation must
put itself to work upon the problem OF
reform, and devise In the spirit Of the
broadcast, truest huns nity for the recov-
cry Of men and women, boys and girls,
from the immoral, vicious. criminal
practices into which they are allowed
10 drift. The churches are keeping as
silent over the whole matter as though
they had the lockjs IL Is not enough
that our state has appropriated 500
for q refornstory and established the
regulations under which criminals
-hould be admitted. The broadcast char
ity, the kindest solicitude. the intensest
human interest should characterize those
who have charge Of such an Institution.
The supprin endency Of such a reforma
tory lie a much more responsible posi-
tiOn than Is that OF any minister In this
country. The atmosphere OF the
churches is redOlent with culture, intel
ligence, humanizing influences, helpful
ministries, elevating tendencies. The
home, The social circle. the scientific and
literary reunions, all foster q sense of
better things and help the manhood on.
rne minister is the very centre OF cir
Gle from whose outermost bounds every
good influence set, towards him help
ing, holding, increasing him in strength
OF virtue and love Of good. Not 50 with
the superintendent OF q reformatory.
who, surrounded by every influence Of
Nh oppo-ite character, is forced to erect
the barrier OF his own manhood against
every assault Of meanness, envy, deceit,
injustice, fraud and inhumsnity, and
war against them all without In any
sense permitting them to wer the high
standard of human character which h.
must sustain to make his work Ia any
sense effectual. One great need OF Trxss
Is wise. humsnized system Of prison
reform-a Christly Interest in those Who
are going astrsy.